14 ways to redecorate a mud and powder room

Design Lesson

14 ways to redecorate a mud and powder room

Who says you can’t have it all? With two teenagers and a fast-paced career, this homeowner was stuck between her wants and her needs when it came to redesigning her lacklustre mud room and its adjoining powder room. She wanted a stylish space that felt decorated, but she needed functionality that would live up to the demands of her busy family. So, with a little help from Croma Design’s Ryan Martin and a trip or two to her local IKEA, she created a space to be a perfect marriage of the two.

Before: Mud roomThe previous homeowners had used the area as an ersatz storage space.

1 FunctionalityFunctionality doesn’t have to mean a lack of style, as demonstrated by this artsy, sculptural wire bear head from Bend that doubles as a hook.

2 Built-in cabinetsIKEA’s built-in Akurum cabinets with glossy Abstrakt doors make great use of the
small space. Their sophisticated charcoal
grey colour sets the tone for the rest of the room and complements the smokey hues of the Kentwood
hardwood flooring from Carpet One Floor & Home.
3 A pretty vignetteThe decorator’s touch is evident in this room, where a stylish tray for corralling keys also makes a
pretty vignette.
4 Ambient lightingA Niche Modern contemporary glass
light fixture provides plenty of ambient lighting.

5 Wallpaper panelThe homeowner showcased this ethereal Azha
wallpaper panel from Trove by having pieces of valance from IKEA’s Akurum/Abstrakt line mitred to create a frame that matches the cabinetry.

6 Built-in benchBy adding a few plush velvet
throw pillows, the built-in bench becomes a pretty perch for pulling on winter boots. Deep drawers stow away dog supplies right where they’re needed.
7 Locker-style cupboards The locker-style cupboards were made using IKEA’s Akurum/Abstrakt
kitchen cabinetry, but designer Ryan Martin customized the interiors so they could accommodate hooks and shelving for coats, purses and shoes.
Before: Powder roomThe layout in the
powder room worked, but the finishes and colour scheme were hard on the eyes.
The use of a round vintage mirror where there’s no room for a wall-mounted one is a stylish space-saving solution.

9 Ceiling-height cupboardsThe existing ceiling-height cupboards worked well in the space but needed a little facelift. Now painted in CIL Paints’s warm Monterey Cliffs, they house all the cleaning supplies.

10 A beautiful backsplash The homeowner was able to use leftover slabs of Calcutta Michelangelo marble from a previous project as a
beautiful backsplash in this diminutive
powder room.
11 Display shelfThis deep window ledge serves as a display shelf for a few choice items like a piece of artwork and in-season blooms.
12 Frosted-glass doorThe homeowner chose a door with frosted-glass panels so that light could flow freely between the two adjoining rooms.